-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
help needed to recondition stacked leather
- Thread starter robow
- Start date
I've not actually tried reconditioning stacked leather handles, but I've had good results reconditioning old leather things using Neatsfoot oil. (Bought it from a local hardware shop) Being a liquid instead of a waxy paste like Dubbin, it gets absorbed a lot faster.
Typically, what I'd do is brush off loose dirt, then wash the leather object using an old toothbrush and a warm emulsion of dishwashing detergent and Neatsfoot oil. Rinse in fresh warm water then pat dry. With a cloth, rub in the Neatsfoot oil (would be better if slighty warm, but not essential). Be generous and allow time for it to be asorbed. I usually allow 15min between each application and keep it up until the leather feels soft and supple, then finish off with a couple of coats of Dubbin rubbed well in with the fingers. The Dubbin is optional.
Since you are working with stacked leather handles, I don't think you should be waiting for it to get supple
But hopefully, here's a starter and people with more experience might chip in. As always YMMV.
Typically, what I'd do is brush off loose dirt, then wash the leather object using an old toothbrush and a warm emulsion of dishwashing detergent and Neatsfoot oil. Rinse in fresh warm water then pat dry. With a cloth, rub in the Neatsfoot oil (would be better if slighty warm, but not essential). Be generous and allow time for it to be asorbed. I usually allow 15min between each application and keep it up until the leather feels soft and supple, then finish off with a couple of coats of Dubbin rubbed well in with the fingers. The Dubbin is optional.
Since you are working with stacked leather handles, I don't think you should be waiting for it to get supple
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2000
- Messages
- 626
How big are the gaps between the leather "chips"? Everything Steelwolf has said makes sense to me, but I would add that since the leather is currently dry (& has consequently shrunk) you ought to be reconditioning it from the inside to the outside, rather than the other way. It would take less time to complete, and possibly reduce the chances of "internal" damage to the leather. If you can't get to the inside surfaces of the leather, but the leather is in dire need, remove the pommel (or have someone do it for you) and then the handle, numbering the discs so they go back on the same way the came off. Then continue as Steelwolf described, before re-assembling the handle. Make sense?
------------------
Sometimes I get the idea that everything is ulterior ...
------------------
Sometimes I get the idea that everything is ulterior ...